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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Old Gumphrey" data-source="post: 1358765" data-attributes="member: 12872">...I would take the DMG's ruling to mean that you have full control over your cohort, except in situations (as noted above) where you try abusing your power. When I said you have control of your cohort I wasn't implying that you should have utter dominance over them; simply that (like the DMG states) they are another PC under your direct control. Good roleplaying (not sending a sorcerer cohort ahead to "scout" in a dark cave with a torch) comes from good roleplaying, not a rule set. People make bad decisions for their own characters all the time and typically get angry when someone questions whether or not the action is "in-character". An important thing to consider is where "roleplaying" ends and "abuse" begins. Using a summoned monster to trip a trap is fine; it's a spell that you cast to do a specific job. Using a cohort to trip a trap should net the same result as asking your fellow PCs to do the same. It shouldn't be hard for any sane player to realize that is generally not acceptable. I believe you should be fully allowed to roleplay your cohorts (I've done all of mine as a player so far) and determine their gross physical and personal qualities (if you want to); but it should be plain to any gaming group when a given cohort would not perform a given action. Using the abuse example should not be a back door to cripple any players, though. If your cohort is a dedicated scout (such as a rogue- or ranger-type) he should be more than willing to go first down that dark tunnel to see what's going on. If your party is evil (or even neutral) goading could work to a point (likely depending on the ethical axis of the cohort's alignment). A LE cohort might just go down that tunnel to win respect if his master chastises him for balking. But he'd also net that -2 modifier to his next cohort if this one dies (as a result of his master's actions).</blockquote>

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